Update on the 3R 6 Speed Gear Box

[dclarke]

I have been out in Dubai and have not kept up with the postings, so apologies if I'm telling you something you already know.

Got a call from Mole valley telling me my 3R was at the factory but could not be fitted with the 6 speed gearbox until September, due to supply issues.

Have agreed to take the fiver and Noble will change it in Sept for the Sixer when they come in for no extra cost.

[goodlife]

Anyone else heard this? I've order 6-speed from MV and not heard a dickybrid.

[kj-r]

l ordered my gearbox from the factory and recieved an email last week to say that it had been delayed and they would advise me when it was available , no reason given.

[PetrolTed]

Lee was at Mallory with a 3R last week. That had a six speed box. Doesn't shed any light on the issue though does it

[goodlife]

PetrolTed said: Lee was at Mallory with a 3R last week. That had a six speed box. Doesn't shed any light on the issue though does it

Thanks Ted, very helpfull

[Jackrussel]

It is now nine months since I placed my initial order for a GTO3R, I refused to pay the second stage deposit untill I was given some idea of the timescale in which the 6 speed gearbox would be available, and was told that despite several promises FORD had yet to honour their verbal agreement to supply the new boxes for the Noble.
I was also told that the 3R will only produce 340 bhp not the 365 bhp as quoted in certain motor publications, I feel that by offering the 6 speed box as a "OPTIONAL EXTRA" if the gearbox,does in the end not become available, then those customers who have placed orders on the basis that they get the said "Six Speeder" will have no legal right to cancel their order and have their deposit refunded.

[mb1]

I have been told pretty much the same as dclarke by my dealer yesterday.

You can spec the 6-speed gearbox now and if it is not possible to fit it when your car is due than they will fit it later for no extra charge.

As I remember, dclarke, you have a very early slot and Noble always told me that they would not be ready to fit the 6-speeder until begging of July.
I am built number R32 and with a delivery estimated to mid-july, I hope they will have them at this time. Otherwise, it will be latter !! As long as the car itself is not delayed !! The wait has been long enough and I am really looking forward to July !!

Dclarke, did you get a more precise delivery date for yours ?

MB

[tomahawk]

I've got build R23 and have also ordered the 6 speed but heard nothing from either the factory or the dealer about non-availability.I wouldn't give a monkeys if they delivered it with the 5 and changed it later for the 6 but does the new box have to be run in and if they are replacing it foc , does it mean we don't pay the upgrade cost until the box is swapped?

[dclarke]

MB1 - Delievery was originally quoted by the factory for June/July. As yet I have not heard anything from my dealer or the factory to alter that perception.

With regards to any potential worries about the six speed never coming and not having a legal leg to stand on, I'm happy to put my faith in the honest and customer focus manner that everyone at Noble has consistently shown, and hope that I won't be left financially unhappy even if I have to live with the 5. But if Lee is selling a sixer I'm sure there will be a sixer.

Dennis

>> Edited by dclarke on Tuesday 10th June 11:13

[Sidekick]

Just saw the following from Lee (sent to the nobleownersclub.net email discussion group):

From the Factory.

6-Speed boxes

Yes their has been a delay but i dont know where three months has come from
!
As far as we are concirned its nothing like this.

we are expecting gearbox deliveries soon.

we asked if any customers wanted five speed and some said yes, this
obviously helps us deliver some cars now.

but the 3R was originally marketed with a five speed anyway based on our
suppliers promises we decided to offer the six as an option. unfortunately
then their was this delay.
I am sure it will be weeks and not months
Yes we have been driving the six speed prototype for a few weeks now, but
its the only one we have.

Please stop speculating we will provide the answers as soon as we know them.

Regards


Lee Noble

[Jackrussel]

I can understand that some buyers cannot wait for the 6 speed box and have therefore opted for the 5 speed, but given that the 5 speed box was at the limit of its design capability handling 310 bhp leading to failures of which there were a number, how do prospective owners think their 5 speed boxes will handle 340 bhp, can you imagine two years down the line picking up a magazine where a review of the GTO3R comments along the lines of "Great looks, outstanding ability, beware of 5 SPEED models due to potential gearbox problems" how do owners think such a comment will effect residuel GTR values.
In truth if the 5 speed box is not up to it then why is it bieng fitted to any of the GTO3R's, and prospective owners are bieng offered the 6 speeder as a OPTIONAL EXTRA , yeah right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ?

[guysh]

Actually I believe they have had only one failure of a five speed gearbox and the that was due to a manufacturing defect and not to not being able to handle the power. The 3R was designed to have the five speeder because the 6 speeder was not around when the 3R was born. The weakest point in the system (and I think I'm right on this one) is the Diff. which is why the LSD is standard I think on the 3R, although they have only ever had a handful of those go and it's been on cars that have been heavily tracked.

Guy.

[lx993]

Guy - I understood that the entire gearbox was at the upper end of torque capability. If it is just the diff that is running close to its limits, presumably a 5 speeder with the new LSD would allow a substantial boost upgrade??

I think Joust has retained the 5 spd box but added LSD and had an engine upgrade - 0.9 bar. Not sure exactly how much power/torque this is though.

[SteveJT]

I believe I am one of the earliest upgraders running at 345 bhp but there was no change in torque and no LSD. The upgrade was made in March last year and I have covered about 7000 miles since. Admittedly the car has not been used on a test track but there has been no problem with the gearbox during normal (albeit fast) use.

[guysh]

lx993 said:
I think Joust has retained the 5 spd box but added LSD and had an engine upgrade - 0.9 bar. Not sure exactly how much power/torque this is though.

Well I recon that the 5 must be capable of handeling his power upgrade otherwise they would not have done it. However the 6 is a stronger gearbox being a 3 rail rather than 2. So I guess it depends on how well you treat your box! I personally will either change my car at some stage or change the box, LSD and have a power upgrade... not only will the 6 handle more power but will have closer packed ratio's and a higher top gear for better motorway cruseing...

just my 2p worth.

[noblem12]

AFAIK there were very few problems with the 5-speed gearbox. I have done some 7,000 miles with the 3L (344 BHP) without any problems whatsoever.

I currently have a 3R on order with 6-speed, LSD and track sump - two reasons why I wanted the 6-speed:

1. it is stronger and if and when there are engine upgrades available I want to be able to choose whether I want them or not and not be constrained by the gearbox

2. the ratios are slighter longer on the 6-speed which makes for more relaxed cruising on motorways :-) and it is also probably slightly more interesting on the track.

Chris

[Jackrussel]

Guysh: Where did you get your info that there has been only one gearbox failure on a 5 speed, do you I wonder either work for or have a very close contact with Noble-Moy.
I thought the whole point of this chat room was to share information for the mutual benefit of other owners,I have very reliable information to substantiate my claim that there have been substantially more gearbox failures than you would have us believe.

[stuh]

JR - Are you sure you shouldn't be posting these comments on the Tuscan forum

There is a Noble owners group run ostensibly by Jools (an owner) where any mechanical issues are aired. As SteveJT has pointed out his 345bhp car is running fine as is mine - i've now covered 12000 miles, and to my knowledge only one box has failed.

I'm sure uf you asked the factory they would give you a fairly straight answer, they don't tend to p1ss about!

[guysh]

From this forum and the owners mail list!
And no I don't work for them check my profile or ask Noble Moy them selves!

Jackrussel said: Guysh: Where did you get your info that there has been only one gearbox failure on a 5 speed, do you I wonder either work for or have a very close contact with Noble-Moy.
I thought the whole point of this chat room was to share information for the mutual benefit of other owners,I have very reliable information to substantiate my claim that there have been substantially more gearbox failures than you would have us believe.

[guysh]

some of the dealerships seem to spout an awful lot of rubbish I think...